A recent survey reveled that 1 in 5 teens have never used a VHS. Seeing as DVD's have now been around for about 13 years, we were actually surprised that many had been exposed to this now archaic format.

The survey done by MyVoucherCodes.co.uk aimed to discover what products and devices have never been used by young generations. Unsurprisingly MiniDiscs and floppy disks were also on the list of unused items. In many ways this is another great example of how quickly technology is developing... or if nothing else will remind you how quickly your turning into a dinosaur.

Toshiba are hoping to leap-frog the TV manufacturing competition by becoming the first major company to mass-produce glasses-free 3D TVs.

Revealed at this week's CEATEC show in Japan, the company have two different sets in the pipeline, one 12 inches across and the other 20 inches, neither of which require 3D glasses to enjoy as they make use of lenticular technology.

Toshiba's new sets offer "nine different perspectives (parallaxes) of each single 2D frame which the viewer's brain superimposes to create a 3-dimensional impression of the image."

The screens then use a "powerful engine and an algorithm to extrapolate these perspectives out of the 2D frame and use a perpendicular lenticular sheet, an array of lenses, that enable the viewer's brain to superimpose the perspectives. It also offers a wide viewing area in front of the display and allows movement of the eyes and head without disrupting the 3D image and without the discomfort sometimes associated with other 'glasses-less' 3D technologies."

However Toshiba aren't expecting an overnight sales boom when the sets are released to the public, instead targeting a "small group of early adopters."

"The commercial launch of our 12-inch and 20-inch 3D TVs without glasses in Japan is a first step into the 3D future in the consumer home cinema market," says Sascha Lange. "But it will take several years to develop larger 3D TVs without glasses with screen sizes of 40-inch and more at a reasonable price point."

No pricing has been announced yet, but don't let the relatively small screen sizes fool you; these are going to be expensive tellies. They'll be available in Japan before the end of the year.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini has inadvertently let slip the long-anticipated release date of Google TV. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, the Intel head-honcho also spoke of the forthcoming face-off between Apple TV 2 and Google's offering.

According to Otellini, Google TV will be coming "this month" in North America, though he was less keen to disclose in what form though. He did however reveal that as well as Sony and Logitech, "many, many companies" are interested in working alongside the search giants in their first TV venture.

Otellini also spoke candidly about predicted audiences for both Google and Apple's offerings. "I believe there are probably households that one will appeal to and the other won't. My mom might use an Apple TV because it's really simplistic. My son is probably going to buy a Google TV, simply because it's cool."

Google TV is expected to hit the UK in early 2011.

Via: Wall Street Journal

Impressed by LG's recent IFA 2010 showing of a 31 inch OLED TV? So you should be; the beautiful paper-thin display took Tech Digest's top spot for Best in Show at the Berlin event this week. What was less impressive however was its cost, with the prototype unit having an estimated price price tag of around £6,000 should it ever hit shops.

That's the main thing holding back the widespread adoption of the technology by TV manufacturers Samsung. Yoon Boo-keun, the head of Samsung's TV business unit told the Korea Times that "It's too premature to commercialize OLED TVs due to strong price resistance. Consumers will not buy it without affordable prices, leaving small room for greater marketability."

Is this fighting talk from Yoon Boo-keun, on the defensive following LG's strong IFA showing, or is it just common sense? However good the technology may be, which Average Joe can honestly justify a TV set that'll account for a good chunk of a year's wages?

Samsung aren't pulling out of the OLED race though, recently demoing a 40" model themselves. Just don't expect to see any OLED screens with Samsung's name slapped across the box until the pricing can be dropped a fair bit is all.

Via: OLED TV Info / Korea Times

Whilst the official launch of Google TV may be just around the corner, People of Lava Sweden have jumped the gun at this year's IFA, claiming a world-first with their Scandinavia Android powered TV. Check it out in the video above.

Set for a worldwide launch before the year is out, you'll be able to pick up the full HD screen in 42, 47 and 55 inch sizes. 3 HDMI ports sit on the rear, plus composite and scart connections, with media playback also possible through USB ports.

From the off you have access to a fairly robust web browser, which supports zooming and multiple windows open simultaneously across the screen. Out of the box you'll also get apps for YouTube, Google Maps and a Calendar, with more available from the Android App store. Push and POP 3 email is also supported.

Though we were told by technical director Mathias Andolfsson that the OS can be upgraded over the web, according to the company's website it's only running Android 1.5, aka Cupcake out of the box, which may turn some people off.

It's all controlled by a palm-sized wireless keyboard-come-remote control, which features a full QWERTY set up, cursor keys, application shortcuts and Wii-like onscreen cursor control.

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news

Looks like Steve Jobs and co won't be the only gang launching an Apple TV this year. Feast your eyes on the Hannspree 55 Apple TV!

With a similarly fruit-themed cartoon casing as seen in earlier Hannspree novelty sets, the screen size this time around is a monster 55 inches across. Full HD at a 1080p resolution, it's also packing in 4 HDMI ports, as well as scart and composite connections.

Don't expect any app smarts with this set, though it's a colourful and surprisingly sharp screen that'll take centre stage in any kiddies bedroom.

Check it out in the video above.

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news

All the major TV manufacturers at this year's IFA were touting some form or other of web-connected screen, but the most interesting of the bunch were LG's Smart TVs.

With Wii-like Magic Motion pointer remote, they featured an intuitive dashboard and applications download feature, as well as wireless streaming of content to smartphones, tablets and PCs.

"With the introduction of our advanced SMART TV, LG is able to offer a 'Total Home
Entertainment Solution' enabling consumers to enjoy practically any digital content on
any smart device," said Simon Kang, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment
Company. "For consumers who want full control over how and where they get their
entertainment with maximum ease and comfort, the LG SMART TV solution may be all
they need."

LG's George Mead takes us through the sets many features in the above video.

The LG Smart TV will launch in early 2011.

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news

3D may still by the buzz word when it comes to TVs at the moment, but if LG's 31 inch prototype model is anything to go by, the future of flatscreen televisions really lies in OLED technology.

At 31 inches in size, it's the worlds biggest OLED screen, and, at 2.9mm thick, the slimmest too. Colour reproduction is stunning on the 31 inch display with no bleeding across tones, and as OLED pixels generate their own light, incredible black levels are also possible.

We were already sold on the panel's 2D skills, but add in its impressive 3D abilities too and LG seem to have pretty much every base covered.

LG's George Mead talks us through the screen in the video above. Start saving the pennies, as he reveals this one will be unleashed to the public in "the near future".

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news

It's not just super-slim OLED sets on LG's IFA agenda this year. The South Korean tech giants are also diving into the realm of connected TVs, and their newly-revealed Smart TV seems the most aptly named of the bunch.

The web-connected set features a dashboard-style UI that houses a number of apps. These include Facebook, Picasa and Youtube among others, all pretty standard fare for internet-savvy screens.

Things get interesting however when the Smart TVs Wii-style Magic Motion Remote Control gets involved. Poiting and clicking to control actions on screen rather than using a traditional television remote control scheme, it'll let you try your hand at Yoga and First Aid lessons onscreen, as well as mucking about with a colouring-book app, with more wand-friendly features on the way.

The set will also complete with LGs Media Link, syncing numerous devices to the screen. According to the LG press release, Media Link offers:

"Instant access to online videos and images; users can easily upload things they've created themselves. And with a smartphone, leaving the house doesn't mean missing one's favourite programme because content can be delivered wirelessly. Whether connecting to an iPad, PCs, personal media players or home theatre systems, LG is expanding the reach of entertainment to every part of people's lives".

More on the LG Smart TV when it launches early next year.

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news

It's been heralded as the future of flatscreen TVs, but OLED screens have so far been so small and expensive that they've remained something of a novelty. Until now that is. Details have leaked of an LG super OLED set that, whilst sure to still break the bank, is an impressive 31 inches as well as being 3D compatible.

At just 2.9mm thick it's quite literally a "cutting-edge" design, measuring up as the thinnest OLED screen on the market. Super smooth images will also be on show thanks to a 600Hz refresh rate, halving to a still-impressive 300Hz for 3D images.

However, with OLED screens half the size and without 3D smarts still sporting £1500 price tags, expect this set to remain the reserve of only the super-rich.

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news.

LG have confirmed that they will be displaying a 31 inch OLED TV at this year's IFA conference. It will be the largest that the company have produced so far, and while bigger examples exist from the likes of Samsung and Sony, the LG display could be unique in that it may make it to shops before the year is out.

OLED TVs, with their superior contrast ratios, minimal motion blur and svelte sizes, were hailed as the future for TVs when they first popped up on show floors a couple of years back. But the increasing quality of LCD TVs (not to mention the high pricing of OLEDs) has kept them quite the niche product.

Click here for more IFA-related news in the run up to the show's grand opening next month

Via: OLED Display

Two new high-end sets have been added to Sony's 3D Bravia range this morning. The NX713 and NX813 3D TVs are yet another two options to bring your PS3 games and (eventually) 3D Blu-rays into the third dimension.

Apart from 100Hz motion processing in the NX713 model and 200Hz processing in the NX813, there's very little to set the two TVs apart. Both sport the monolithic design of the updated Bravia range with dynamic LED backlighting and Sony's Bravia Internet Video services.

The sets also have with an optional designer stand, tilting the screen at the optimal 6 degree angle and squeezing in a 2.1 channel speaker system in the base.

"With 3D capability, the connectivity of BRAVIA Internet Video and stunning monolithic design, the NX713 and NX813 are perfect for people who want both style and performance from their TV," says Christian Brown, Senior Category Marketing Manager, Sony UK.

"More and more people recognize that 3D will play an important part in the future of home entertainment. And with the NX713 and NX813 you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're ready to upgrade to 3D viewing as soon as you decide the time is right.

No price or release date has been set yet for either model, but we'll pass on the info once we get it.

Panasonic's next line of 3D TVs set to hit the US will feature 2D-to-3D conversion abilities, the company have confirmed. Aimed at gamers, the GT25 range will launch across the pond before the end of the year, with the 42-inch version one of the smallest 3D sets currently available.

However, the addition of 2D-to-3D tech doesn't come without some controversy, after Panasonic bosses recently slammed its quality.

Speaking to Home Cinema Choice magazine, Panasonic's VP Bob Perry had said that his company would not be adopting the conversion technology "just as a sushi bar should promise never to serve fake sushi-like food."

Likewise Panasonic Europe's TV chief Fabrice Estornel questioned the conversion tech's ability to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with "real 3D" content: "We don't think it's right to confuse consumers this early on with second-rate conversion technology."

The TC-P42G25 and TC-P50GT25 models are expected to feature in Panasonic's show at next month's IFA conference in Berlin, so expect more details to come in then, as well as word on whether or not the sets will be hitting UK shores.

Via: Tech Radar / Home Cinema Choice

Avatar maestro James Cameron himself said that the only way to truly enjoy 3D TV is to get the biggest set you can possibly afford. Well, expect to see the Samsung UN65C8000 in the Titanic helmsman's living room then, as they don't come any bigger than this.

With a 3D LED display a whopping 65 inches across, the set also features a 240Hz refresh rate for silky smooth motion, Samsung's 3D processor built-in and web abilities such as Wi-Fi access to apps like ESPN and Hulu in the USA.

3D TVs of course are still mightily expensive, and a monster screen like this is no exception. You wont get any change from $6,000 (circa £3,830), but Samsung will throw in two pairs of 3D glasses and a 3D Blu-Ray copy of the actually-pretty-good How To Train Your Dragon for your troubles.

Via: Gizmodo

Philips' latest range of 7605 HD TVs will be following the current LED trend of having edge-lit backlighting rather than a rear-lit system.

Due for release in 32, 37, 40 and 46 inch screen sizes, the edge-lit backlighting should result in a smaller footprint, keeping your energy bills down and doing your small part for the environment at the same time.

Philips have also revamped their Ambilight Spectra 2 ambient lighting system. There will now be an onscreen menu for tweaking the light output, with Philips now recognising that not everyone wall mounts the sets on white-washed walls.

Elsewhere the 1080p sets feature Philips' own Pixel Precise image processing, 100 Hz HD Natural Motion tech, NetTV connected service and 500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

The sets are available now, with pricing ranging from £849 for the 32 incher up to £1499 for the 46 inch largest model.

Name: LC-46LE820E Aquos Quattron (Sharp)

Type: 46" LCD LED Backlit HD TV

Specs:

Contrast Ratio: 6,000,000 :1
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080p)
Connectivity:4x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1x USB, 1x Scart, Composite adaptor
Speakers: 2x 10 watts speakers
Dimensions: 1127mm H (including base) x 785mm W x 39mm D
Features: Quad-pixel technology, LED backlighting, 100Hz motion processing, DLNA home networking

Price: Circa £1,400

(NB. The LC-46LE820E model we were sent to test was a European model that did not feature the HD Tuner that we have been assured comes as standard on the UK model. Therefore any HD sources described refer to either a Sky+ HD box or PS3 and its built in Blu-ray player)

While the rest of the industry has thrown itself head-first into the 3D TV race, Japanese manufacturers Sharp have taken a different tact. They've been working on what they've dubbed quad-pixel technology, which they've stuffed into their new range of Aquos Quattron HD TVs. It adds a fourth yellow pixel pixel to the standard red, green and blue make up used by other sets, which they claim will redefine colour processing in TVs. But just how revolutionary is the quad-pixel technology? Read on to find out.

The 46 inch LC-46LE820E Aquos Quattron set we tested was quite a sight to behold. Incredibly slim, with a curved black bezel that features a near transparent strip along its bottom edge, it's a very attractive set in terms of design. Either sitting on a metal base with glass support or wall mounted, it features an illuminated Sharp logo (which can be switched off if you prefer) and a few simple, touch-sensitive controls on its right lower edge.

In terms of the actual aforementioned quad-pixel technology, the set's "big sell" if you will, it's not quite as revolutionary as Sharp would have you believe. There's no denying that colours are incredibly vibrant and defined, but you'll be hard pressed to note a remarkable difference between the Quattron's colours and similar top-end models from other manufacturers. Sharp apparently are planning to introduce the same technology in their forthcoming 3D sets, which can suffer from colour and brightness issues, so perhaps its influence will be more noticeable there. For the time being however you're getting solid if not ground-breaking colour response here.

With that said, picture quality on offer here is still very impressive. Sharp by name, sharp by nature, the set delivers 1080p HD images in great detail, providing you've tweaked the (frankly atrocious) out-of-the-box image settings. There are plenty of colour and sharpness options to play about with, and messing with them can lead to some excellent results in picture quality. Blu-ray playback of "The Road" revealed startlingly deep black levels, fine detail in its post-apocalyptic setting, and managed to show excellent definition between the movie's somewhat muted colour palette. Conversely, Blu-ray playback of manga animation "Paprika" showed just how vibrant the colours can be with the Quattron, with the vivid cartoon really shining on the screen.

Sharp's image processing techniques also seem to have been given a bit of a overhaul. The 100Hz motion technology present here leads to perfectly smooth action scenes in movies and games, though we'd suggest avoiding the highest settings as they can make certain scenes move a little unnaturally. Likewise, the TV handles standard definition sources with aplomb, tidying up the image without causing any glaring artefacts to appear.

It's also worth noting however that the glass panel over the screen's display was incredibly reflective, even in relatively low light. It didn't make the TV un-watchable by any means, but it was quite annoying at times, and is definitely worth considering if your living room is a bit of a sun trap.

The Quattron's speakers are worth applauding. As ever with a screen not even an inch thick, they will never compete with a dedicated sound system, but the clarity on offer here is commendable, as is the bass response in comparison to other slim-style TVs.

Sharp make great use of the massive screen real estate on offer here when it comes to displaying menus. As I mentioned earlier, the preset image settings are pretty poor, so initially at least you're going to be fiddling around quite a lot with menu options. This is made far easier thanks to the way the TV intelligently scales the entire image around the menus when tweaking settings like colours, allowing you to see exactly how the changes you are making are affecting the picture. The intuitive menu system also makes navigating the set's basic home-networking capabilities nice and easy (allowing you to play back MKV files, HD video, photos and music from either a USB or LAN connection), though it's no replacement for a dedicated media streamer.

Lastly, the remote control. It's a little long and thin for my personal liking, but it is light, intelligently laid out, and seemed sturdy enough to withstand a few bumps and drops. It's also got a dedicated button for sending the set into ECO mode, which should help save on the electricity bills of anyone too lazy to turn the set off the old fashioned way.

All in then, its a very strong set. It's quite expensive at around £1,400, and the quad-pixel technology doesn't really justify such a high premium. It remains however a top notch goggle-box, with sharp HD pictures, vivid colours and speakers far better than its rivals, and is well worth your cash so long as you aren't expecting the visual revolution that the adverts have touted.

4/5

While there's no excusing England's frankly shocking performance and exit out of the World Cup finals yesterday, there's also no denying that Frank Lampard had quite a scorching goal brutally and mistakenly disallowed. It could well have turned the tide of the match, but alas, it was not to be.

Still, even if the ref needs a new pair of specs (or at least the help of goal-line technology), at least electrical retailers Currys are giving England fans something to smile about; they WILL recognise Frank Lampards goal, meaning they'll be giving a further £10 voucher (£10 for each of the 3 goals - plus an extra £10 voucher for the one that got away) to customers who bought a TV over and above £599 and who signed up for the promotion initially as part of their "Cash for Goals" World Cup deal.

Currys Marketing Director, Niall O'Keeffe commented: "Like every other England fan, and pretty much every person around the world who watched the match, we believe that Frank Lampard scored a legitimate goal on Sunday. We promised our customers £10 back for every goal the team scored in the World Cup and we stand by that so we're officially recognising it and will be giving all eligible customers a free £10 gift voucher for the goal that got away."

He added: "England may have got the red card - but our customers will get a gift card. Although it's no consolation for an early World Cup exit we'd like to give a bit back to the fans who've had so little to cheer about over the last couple of weeks."

Every cloud has a silver lining and all that other stiff upper lip malarkey I suppose.

Note: The £10 vouchers deal is only for customers who have already signed up for the Cash For Goals promotion.

After months of promotion to encourage people to make the jump to HD for this World Cup tournament, ITV HD made the mother of all blunders during England's showdown with the USA on Saturday.

Just minutes into the first half England took the lead from a Steven Gerrard goal. But those watching on ITV HD would not have had time to celebrate, as the channel cut to adverts during the moments it took for England to put the ball in the back of the net. To make matters worse, the transmission that then returned was in standard definition rather than high-def format for the majority of the game.

ITV HD's Adrian Chiles apologised for the problems at half-time, saying "apologies for those watching in HD. I believe there was some interruption in your coverage."

An official ITV statement puts the blame down to "human error" and a transmission problem from supplier Technicolor.

But ITV's problems didn't just affect the 1.5 million watching the match in HD. Glitches during the opener between South Africa and Mexico meant that some 90,000 struggled to follow ITV's online coverage of the game.

Get ready; as of tomorrow, Sony's 3D bombardment will begin, as their brand-spanking new range of 3D-capable Bravia TVs hit stores.

The KDL-HX803 is their first 3D TV set out of the starting blocks. Using active shutter technology and a separate 3D transmitter, the 1080p, 200Hz screen will be in shops tomorrow. Available in 40 and 46 inch sizes, the KDL-HX803 also features a built-in Freeview HD tuner and Sony's Bravia internet service to access catch-up TV and YouTube, among others.

Hold out until July though and you'll be able to pick up Sony's flagship KDL-LX903 TV, which will be fully 3D out of the box thanks to an inbuilt 3D transmitter, as well as shipping with two pairs of 3D glasses.

Sony are also prepping plenty of new 3D content to go along with the screens, from 3D games, to concerts and movies.

Blu-ray players will also be getting 3D tech in the BDV-S470 and BD-S570 models, as well as the BDV-E370 and BDV-E870 home cinema kits.

The start of the World Cup is just a few days away and, if you're anything like the team here at Tech Digest, you're not going to want to miss a single game. While in an ideal world we'd all have the cash or the space for a 100-inch flatscreen beast, some times bigger isn't always better.

So here's a run down of five of the best smaller HD TVs on the market, perfect for the bedroom or office, to watch the World Cup on.

Check out the gallery below to get started.